Warning light for appliances

ABSTRACT

A WARNING LIGHT FOR APPLIANCES INCLUDING A WALL PLUG WITH PRONG MEANS FOR INSERTING ONE END OF THE PLUG IN AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET SOCKET IN THE WALL, AND SOCKER TERMINALS IN THE OTHER END OF THE PLUG FOR RECEIVING THE PRONGS OF AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE THEREIN AND A WARNING LIGHT IN SAID PLUG WITH SWITCH   MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE WARNING LIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE IS INSERTED WITHIN THE PLUG RECEIVING END OF THE PLUG WITH THE WARNING LIGHT BEING DISPOSED IN SERIES WITH THE PRONG END OF THE PLUG AND THE PLUG END OF THE PLUG.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul J. Meyer P. 0. Box 193, Jefferson, Tex. 75657 [2 1] Appl. No. 757,968

[22] Filed Sept. 6, 1968 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [54] WARNING LIGHT FOR APPLIANCES 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 340/252, 340/2 14 [5 I] Int. Cl. 60% 21/00 [50] Field of Search 340/252, 2X4; 324/51 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,805 5/1930 Pollock et al. 340/252 2,355,149 8/l944 De Giers 340/214UX 2,595,246 5/l952 Grant, Jr., et al. 340/252UX 2,7 I 0,955 6/1955 Hallerberg et al. 340/2 14X 2,976,484 3/l96l McClain 324/51 FOREIGN PATENTS 612,015 l/l96l Canada 340/252 Primary Examiner.lohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner Daniel Myer Attorney- Berman, Davidson and Berman ABSTRACT: A warning light for appliances including a wall plug with prong means for inserting one end of the plug in an electrical outlet socket in the wall, and socket terminals in the other end of the plug for receiving the prongs of an electrical appliance therein and a warning light in said plug with switch means for energizing the warning light before an electrical appliance is inserted within the plug receiving end of the plug with the warning light being disposed in series with the prong end of the plug and the plug end of the plug.

WARNING mom son APPLIANCES The present invention relates to a device for indicating when an electrical appliance is turned on or is in use and electrical energy is being supplied thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel warning light device for insertion into the outlet socket of a wall and to have an electrical appliance, such as a toaster, iron and the like connected to the device so as to indicate when the device is in use by providing a warning light in the device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and relatively small warning light device for indicating when an iron or other appliance is turned on, which device is provided with switch means therein for pretesting the lamp bulb utilized in the device so as to determine that the light bulb is working before the appliance is plugged into the device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a warning light indicator which has a miniature lamp or glow device therein which is disposed in series withone of the electrical conduit paths in the device and with switch means adapted to connect the two electrical flow paths in the device together so as to pretest the lamp inserted within the device, before an electrical appliance is connected to the device, and after the device has been inserted in the outlet socket of a conventional electrical outlet in a room or building or the like.

Various other objects of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing fonning a part thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the warning device embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is aperspective view of one of the electrical conduit plate members embodied in the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the other electrical conduit plate members embodied in the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the warning light device of the present invention and comprises a substantially rectangular member formed of a substantially rectangular upper section 12 and a lower section 14. The sections are preferably made of a plastic material that is of a nonconducting material.

The upper and lower sections 12 and R4 are held together by threaded screws 16 disposed around the periphery thereof with nuts 16 threaded on the lower ends thereof. The screw heads and the nuts are recessed in the device.

Sections 112 and 14 are provided with appropriate recesses 20 and 22 therein extending in a substantially horizontal direction through the mating surfaces of the sections so as to provide spaces for metal conducting members 24, 26, and 28 therein.

The metal conductor member 24, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, is provided with an integral spring contact portion 30 and has an inwardly or diagonally extending section 32, which terminates in a semicircular or arcuate contact portion 34. The portion 34 and the portion 32 have an upwardly extending section 36 disposed therebetween.

The device Jill is further provided with a substantially vertical recess 38 therein in which is disposed a lamp bulb socket 40 adapted to receive a lamp 42 therein. The arcuate contact section 34 is in contact with the lamp socket 40.

The metal conductor member 26 is provided with an upright section 44 forming a prong for inserting within the outlet socket of a room and the like. This conductor member is further provided with a flat or horizontal section 46 which is turned or bent inwardly, as best seen in FIG. 3, and is provided with a contact button 48 thereon against which the corresponding button 50 of the lamp 42 seats and makes contact therewith.

It will be seen that when the lamp 42 is securely and properly threaded into its socket 40 that there is an electrical flow path between the metal conductor member 26 and through the lamp base 52 and the socket 40 and the arcuate contact section 34 to the opposite end of the metal conductor member 24.

The metal conductor member 28, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, is comprised of a vertical section 54 that is provided with an integral spring contact portion 56, similar to the spring contact 30 described in connection with metal conductor member 24. The metal conductor member 28 has its spring contact portion 56 disposed in the device adjacent the contact portion 30 so that these two portions form a socket for receiving the prongs of a conventional electrical cord on an iron, a toaster and the like.

The outer ends of the metal conductor members 26 and 28 which are disposed adjacent the lamp end of the device form prongs for inserting the device into the outlet socket of a room or a wall where it is desired to plug in the electrical appliance. The device is provided with a transversely extending recess 58 disposed to one side of the lamp recess 38 and extending beyond the metal conductor members 24 and 28. The transverse recess 58 is provided with a switch 60 therein which comprises a cylindrical portion 62 with knobs or handles 64 secured to the opposite ends thereof. The switch 60 is made of nonconducting material and is provided with a semicircular metal strip 66 in the circumference thereof adapted to make contact with inwardly extending prongs 68 on the metal conductor member 24 and 70 on the metal conductor member 28. The switch 60 is adapted to be rotated or turned from an off to an on position. The lower section 14 is provided with a brass strip 72 having a V notch 74 in its opposite end below the central section 62 of the switch. The central section 62 of the switch is provided with two spaced V-shaped recesses or notches 76 therein adapted to receive the V-shaped notch 74 of the strip 72. When the knobs or handles 62 are turned so that the metal strip 66 is in contact with the prongs 63 and 70 of the respective metal conductor members, and the devices has been plugged into an electrical outlet socket of a wall, the lamp 42 circuit is energized so as to determine whether the lamp bulb is working or whether it is burned out.

After it is determined that the lamp 42 is not burnt out, the handles 64 are turned so that the metal strip 66 is moved out of contact with the prongs 63 and 70. Thereafter, the socket on the electrical cord of a toaster or an iron or another type of appliance that is to be used is inserted within the recesses 20 and 22 so as to complete the circuit through the appliance to be used. At this time, the light bulb will burn so as to indicate that the appliance is being used.

Thus, with the present invention, a simple and compact and inexpensive device is provided in which a warning light indicates to the person that the appliance is being used and is a constant reminder to turn the appliance off when one is finished using it.

The present device further provides a lamp that is in series with one of the metal conductors of the device so that it will always indicate when the device is being used and energy is being supplied thereto.

The present invention further provides a switch in the device so that a party can test whether the lamp is still serviceable before the electrical appliance is inserted into the device.

Inasmuch as various changes may be made in the relative arrangement and location and form of the parts without departing from the present invention, it is not meant to limit he scope of the invention except by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A warning light device for indicating when an electrical appliance is energized comprising a base member, two spaced metal conductor members therein with one end of said members forming prongs extending out of the base member for insertion into a wall socket and the other end of said conductor members forming sockets to receive and electrical appliance plug therein, one of said metal conductor members comprising two discontinuous sections consisting of a first section with 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said switch means includes a rotatable drum with a metal strip adapted to make contact with said metal conductor members when said drum is turned to a predetermined position.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said metal conductor members each have switch prongs thereon adapted to contact said switch metal strip to complete an electrical circuit therebetween.

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